FTR: over 100,000 US horses/year are shipped to just the EU for butchering, mostly to Italy (a top 5 consumer), France and Belgium. Outside the EU Russia is also a big consumer as are Mexico, China, Argentina, Brazil and some ex-Soviet republics. The top 8 consumers alone account for almost 8 million horses.

Sales & processing are sometimes two entirely different things in agricultural regulations. I would be very interested if this factory processed meats not for sale in the UK or Ireland but for other points in & around Europe.

My concern is not that horse meat is present in burgers - as it's perfectly safe to eat - but about the accountability of the supply chain. The idea that a product could secretly contain nearly one-third horse meat is scandalous and illegal (as it's not listed as an ingredient). If it's not meant to be in there in the first place then it's entirely possible it's not actually safe for human consumption; if it's getting in their accidentally then clearly machinery is not being properly cleaned. The big difference between the US and the EU though is that this behaviour is illegal, whereas pink slime, growth hormones, antibiotics and genetically modified crops are considered perfectly acceptable in the US and are hidden from consumers.

This is a massive failure by regulators and action needs to be taken. The businesses responsible should be fined and criminal charges filed where appropriate, while those responsible for regulating meat need to be held responsible (fired, stripped of their salary if possible). If new laws are needed then that should be addressed promptly. People have a right to know what they're eating.

PS - It's really no surprise that the one retailer with the 29% horse meat burgers would be Tesco and I've long avoided shopping there.

My concern is not that horse meat is present in burgers - as it's perfectly safe to eat - but about the accountability of the supply chain. The idea that a product could secretly contain nearly one-third horse meat is scandalous and illegal (as it's not listed as an ingredient). If it's not meant to be in there in the first place then it's entirely possible it's not actually safe for human consumption; if it's getting in their accidentally then clearly machinery is not being properly cleaned. The big difference between the US and the EU though is that this behaviour is illegal, whereas pink slime, growth hormones, antibiotics and genetically modified crops are considered perfectly acceptable in the US and are hidden from consumers.

This is a massive failure by regulators and action needs to be taken. The businesses responsible should be fined and criminal charges filed where appropriate, while those responsible for regulating meat need to be held responsible (fired, stripped of their salary if possible). If new laws are needed then that should be addressed promptly. People have a right to know what they're eating.

PS - It's really no surprise that the one retailer with the 29% horse meat burgers would be Tesco and I've long avoided shopping there.

What's wrong with a little pork in a hamburger?? I make interesting burgers with mixed meats sometimes.

You need to live in UK to understand the arabic bitching. However, the scandal isn't over pork, but for horsemeat. But since it's the UK, where islam is a huge force, unlike the US... they obviously raise concern over how abused they are once again. Just over-dramatization. Typical behaviour of "they are out to get us", as is here: (funny vid if someone translates, the guy wants to die for this thing, right there)

They issue brought up is the fact that it's not formally introduced as a ingredient. To be legitimate it this needs to be done. Otherwise it represents a major health concern. Fortunately I gave up eating fast food.